New firm, Space Perspective, is developing a pressurised capsule which will be elevated by a large balloon, sending daring travellers into the stratosphere.
Dubbed the ‘Spaceship Neptune’, the pressurised pod – which is shaped like a spinning top – will be able to accommodate nine people and offers a very different way to see the stars compared to the rocket-based alternatives such as Virgin Galactic and SpaceX. Large windows will provide opportunities for star gazing. The capsule also features a bar.
Space Neptune will take two hours to float up to an altitude of 100,000 feet and will cruise for a further two hours above the Earth. It will reach the edge of space to see the Earth’s curvature.
Space Perspective founder and co-CEO Jane Poynter said: “We’re committed to fundamentally changing the way people have access to space — both to perform much-needed research and to affect how we view and connect with our planet.”
The first test flight of Spaceship Neptune is expected to take place next year and full commercial operations are scheduled for 2024.
